Category: Economy

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  • Treasury Warns Against Getting Into Trouble With Debt

    Earlier this month the Treasury Department, headed by Henry Paulson, in conjunction with The Advertising Council, came out with a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign that encourages young adults aged 18 to 24 to make responsible choices re: debt and finances. Key to the campaign is the concept of to think twice before spontaneously […]

  • Out from Under the TARP: The Government Bailout Bill

    In an unprecedented move towards transparency, the government posted its 110-page financial bailout bill on the Internet. It’s written in Bill-ese, so the House posted two shorter versions in addition to the full text of the bill. The House will vote on the bill early Monday morning; the Senate Wednesday. A few key points not […]

  • Fed Props Up AIG: David Against Depression’s Goliath

    The Fed today offered global insurer AIG (Ailing Insurance Giant?) an $85 billion loan in exchange for a nearly 80% stake in the company. The fourth such rescue in a matter of months (if you count Fannie and Freddie as two separate entities) has the media invoking even more Great Depression analogies than usual, while […]

  • Fear Me, So That I May Tax You

    If someone put me in a white room with the word “Economy” scrawled on the wall in big red letters, I’d panic and start looking for ax murderers. These days, the word is right up there with “Red Rum” in terms of anxiety-inducing statements. Nosing around for new insights into fear and business, I came […]

  • America’s Little Superstars Mirror China’s Little Emperors

    Psychology Today has a must-read article on the mental health crisis affecting China’s youth. The problem has its roots in Mao-era parents who, after giving up on their own dreams of transcending the working class, put all of their energy into raising superachiever offspring. The result? Large numbers of disenfranchised young people who put their […]

  • Want Water? Pay the Price: An Interview With Aguanomics’ David Zetland

    We’re in a water crisis. Before I talked to economist and creator of Aguanomics David Zetland, those two words–water + crisis—made me scratch my head. I’ve visited developing countries with water problems in the past. In many of those places, water trucks refill tanks located on the tops of buildings, and consumers have to haul […]

  • Gay Marriage is Good for the Economy

    Forget about your faith. Forget about your politics. This blog is about business and as it turns out, gay marriage would rock our economy. Studies by the Williams Institute for California and New Jersey project over $82 million in revenue to benefit those states over the next three years. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office […]

  • Holistic Pet Food: How is this possible?

    Forgive me, but I’m a little confused. Three times in the past week I have received coupons for premium, fresh ingredient based, holistic pet food! One brand comes shrink-wrapped in the deli case ala Jimmy Dean Sausage. Apparently dogs are now even going Vegan. Huh? While gas prices are forcing me to make cuts in […]

  • Why Women Almost Always Do Better in Business Than Men

    The Washington Post has a great article today that explores the reasons why empowering women eliminates the cycle of poverty, particularly in post-conflict Rwanda. It’s hard to imagine the lives Rwandan women have lead, hard to relate to a circumstance where you have no rights, no standing, and no physical power to protect yourself. So […]

  • High Testosterone Affects Financial Decisions

    If you follow behavioral economics, you have most likely heard of the ultimatum game. It is played with two participants. The first is offered $40 and allowed to choose how much of that $40 to share with the second person. If the second person accepts the offer, the money is awarded to each as agreed. […]

  • The French: A 35 Hour Workweek But None The Happier

    A new paper from the IMF examines the impact of the 35 hour work week implemented by the French several years ago. The conclusion… it didn't accomplish anything it was supposed to. Total employment did not increase as anticipated, and the aggregate happiness of the French didn't change. Some interesting findings from the paper: Many […]